ADC 1147A 

Administrative Correction to Defining Suppressors as Small Arms/Light 

Weapons

1. ORIGINATING SERVICE/AGENCY AND POC INFORMATION: 

a. Technical POC: Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Indiana, 812-854-5863, DSN 

482-5863 

b. Functional POC: Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Indiana, 812-854-5863, DSN 

482-5863 

2. FUNCTIONAL AREA: 

a. Primary/Secondary Functional Area: Supply, DOD Small Arms Serialization 

Program (DODSASP), and Unique Item Tracking (UIT) 

b. Primary/Secondary Functional Process: None 

3. REFERENCE: 

a. DLM 4000.25, Defense Logistics Management System, Volume 1, Appendix 2, Terms 

and Definitions 

b. DLM 4000.25-2, Military Standard Transaction Reporting and Accountability 

Procedures (MILSTRAP) 

c. DoDM 5100.76, Physical Security of Sensitive Conventional Arms, Ammunition, and 

Explosives (AA&E), April 17, 2012 

d. US Code Title 18, Part I Chapter 44 (Firearms) Section 921 (Definitions) available at: 

http://www.atf.gov/files/publications/download/p/atf-p-5300-4.pdf

e. United Nations International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace in a 

Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, December 8, 2005, available 

at: http://www.un.org/events/smallarms2006/pdf/international_instrument.pdf

f. DLMSO Memorandum, August 19, 2013, Subject: Joint Small Arms/Light Weight 

Coordinating Group (JSA/LWCG) Meeting, July 18, 2013, available at: 

http://www2.dla.mil/j-6/dlmso/Archives/archives_jsalwcg.asp 
Attachment, ADC 1147 

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4. APPROVED CHANGE: 

a. Brief Overview of Change: This change modifies the Defense Logistics Manual 

(DLM) 4000.25 (reference 3.a.) and DLM 4000.25-2 MILSTRAP (reference 3.b.) definition of 

Small Arms/Light Weapons to include suppressors. Discussions held during the annual 

JSA/LWCG meeting indicated that the majority of members believe suppressors should be DODreportable due to the Security Risk Code. This correction replaces the Navy specific policy with 

the broader DOD policy to better reflect applicability across the DOD. The corrections to 

sections 3. and 4. are highlighted green. There are no changes to the approved procedures 

delineated by ADC 1147. 

b. Background

(1) Reference 3.c., DODM 5100.76, states in Enclosure 7, paragraph 3.a.(3), 

defines “weapons components such as silencers, mufflers, and noise suppression devices” as 

Security Risk Category II items. And Enclosure 11, paragraph 2.c.(6) requests DOD Components 

“determine additional item reporting requirements based on the sensitivity and potential threat 

posed by items. These items may include but are not limited to silencers, mufflers, noise suppression 

devices, and/or sniper rifle systems.” The Navy considers Category II small arms as DODreportable; therefore, this request is to add noise suppressors to the DOD small arms definition, 

which would in turn make them reportable to the DOD Registry. 

(2) Per Reference 3.d., the US Code on Firearms, Title18, Section I, Chapter 44, 

(Firearms), Section 921 (Definitions), Paragraph (a) (3), the definition of small arms as written in 

law is: 

“The term "firearm" means: 

(a) Any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or 

may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive; 

(b) The frame or receiver of any such weapon; 

(c) Any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or 

(d) Any destructive device. Such term does not include an antique 

firearm.” 

(3) The need to update the DOD small arms definition used for DODSASP has 

been raised at JSA/LWCG meetings to support the changing environment for maintaining 

visibility and reporting of suppressors within the DOD. 

(4) Suppressors are highly pilferable and cataloged as a Controlled Inventory 

Item Code (CIIC) 2, the definition being “High Sensitivity (Category II) Arms, Ammunition, and 

Explosives.” 

c. Describe Approved Change in Detail:  In order to support DOD mandated Small 

Arms Serialization Program and will transition to unique item identification tracking, appropriate 

wording is added to the Small Arms and Light Weapons definition in References 3.a. and 3.b. that 

will include associated noise suppression devices and silencers into the definition. This supports 
Attachment, ADC 1147 

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the changing environment for DOD Registries in order to maintain accountability and require 

reporting of suppressor serial number data within the DOD.

d. Revisions to DLM 4000.25 Manuals: Revise References 3.a. and 3.b. definitions of 

Small Arms and Light Weapons to include noise suppression devices as follows: (Note: Added 

text is indicated by bold italicized red text.) 

“SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS. For the purpose of DoD small arms and light 

weapons reporting, small arms and light weapons are defined as man-portable weapons made or 

modified to military specifications for use as lethal instruments of war that expel a shot, bullet, or 

projectile by action of an explosive. Small Arms are broadly categorized as those weapons 

intended for use by individual members of armed or security forces. They include handguns; 

rifles and carbines; sub-machine guns; and light machine guns. 

Light weapons are broadly categorized as those weapons designed for use by two or three 

members of armed or security forces serving as a crew, although some may be used by a single 

person. They include heavy machine guns; hand-held under-barrel and mounted grenade 

launchers; portable anti-aircraft guns; portable anti-tank guns; recoilless rifles; man-portable 

launchers of missile and rocket systems; and mortars. 

Associated suppressors, silencers, mufflers, and noise suppression devices appropriate for 

previously listed small arms and light weapons are included and will be reported within the 

Component and DoD registries. ”

e. Approved Transaction Flow: There are no revised transaction flows. 

f. Alternatives: None noted. 

5. REASON FOR CHANGE: This change is proactive in clarifying and defining small arms 

and light weapons to include suppressors in support of DOD tracking and reporting 

requirements. This change revises the definition and will enable the Components to address and 

fully comply with SA/LW DODSASP and transition to Unique Item Identifier (UII) tracking and 

reporting requirements within the DOD. 

6. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES: 

a. Advantages: This change supports the changing environment for maintaining 

visibility and reporting of suppressor serial number data within the DOD. It also supports the 

requirement for unique item level traceability for all DOD serially-managed items that are 

sensitive or pilferable, documented in DODI 4140.01, Supply Chain Materiel Management Policy, 

and DODM 4140.01 Volume 11, Management of Critical Safety Items, Controlled Inventory Items 

Including Nuclear Weapons-Related Materiel. 

b. Disadvantages: None noted. 

7. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS TO CONSIDER: 
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a. Inter-service moves can result in accountability issues because not all DOD 

Components consider suppressors reportable items or track them by serial number. At this time, 

only the Navy and Marine Corps track suppressors as reportable items by serial number. 

b. The underlying issue is to determine what needs to be tracked in the DOD SA/LW 

Registry to support current law enforcement efforts. Support of law enforcement guidelines is 

one of the reasons the registry exists. We need to assess this requirement to determine the 

probability of law enforcement requesting DOD to trace the whereabouts of a firearm muffler or 

silencer, and to ensure that this probability supports the need to track mufflers and silencers in the 

DOD Registry. 

c. During the Joint Small Arms/Light Weapons Coordinating Group meeting of July 19th, 

2002, a representative from Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATFE) pointed out that 

suppressors are included in their definition of small arms. This further validates the necessity of 

this request. 

8. ESTIMATED TIME LINE/IMPLEMENTATION TARGET: December 1, 2014. 

9. IMPACT: 

a. New DLMS Data Elements: None identified. 

b. Changes to DLMS Data Elements: None identified; however, there may be a need to 

revise automated information systems data element coding and segregation as this change 

redefines SA/LW for DOD tracking and reporting requirements. 

c. Automated Information Systems (AIS): DOD Components may need to revise 

automated information systems data element coding and segregation as this change redefines 

SA/LW for DOD tracking and reporting requirements. 

d. DLA Transaction Services: None identified. 

e. Federal Logistics Information System (FLIS): Components are required to ensure 

that items covered under the definition are assigned the UIT Designator Code “AAA” in FLIS. 

f. Component Registries: The Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard already track and 

record silencers and noise suppressors, however, for the Army and the Air Force, it will be 

necessary to initially register on-hand balances to their respective Service Small Arms Registry 

and to the DOD IUID Registry. 

g. Non-DLA Logistics Management Standards Publications: NAVSEAINST 

8370.2D, Small Arms and Weapons Management Policy and Guidance Manual; MCO 8300.1D, 

Marine Corps Serialized Small Arms/Light Weapons Accountability Program (MCSSAAP); 

Silencers as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(24) as must be registered and transferred in accordance 

with the National Firearms Act and the Gun Control Act of 1968, 

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/national-firearms-act-firearms.html#nfa-firearms. 

10. Proposed DLMS Change (PDC) 1147 Response Table:
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Component Response 

1. Air Force Concur without Comment 

2. Army Concur without Comment 

3. DLA Concur without Comment 

4. Marine Corps Concur without Comment 

5. Navy Concur without Comment 

6. SOCOM Concur without Comment 

7. USTRANSCOM Concur without Comment